The story of Continental Navy seaman John McCoy is revealed largely through the two wills he authored prior to his death between 3 March and 17 May 1777. The first of the two was penned by John McCoy of the City of Philadelphia, Mariner on 14 October 1776 and witnessed by James Aiskell, John Harkens and Isaiah Robinson. Aiskell was a clerk who had been bound to Thomas Penn as a youth to learn bookkeeping and subsequently was sent to Richard Peters at Philadelphia in 1744. At the time of this will recorded in Will Book R.52, Isaiah Robinson commanded the Continental Navy ship Andrew Doria on which McCoy was then serving. McCoy’s first will bequeathed “all the Wages and Prize Money that shall be due to me at the time of my Decease” to Hannah Winter, the seven or eight year old minor daughter of Philadelphia victualler John Winter, who was named executor. This will was proved with all three witnesses attesting on 4 June 1777. Seaman John McCoy is recorded in two muster rolls of the Andrew Doria, then under the command of Continental Navy Captain Nicolas Biddle, published in Naval Documents of the American Revolution: a “List of the People on Board the Andrew Doria from February 1776” made out at New London, CT on 8 April 1776 in NDAR Volume 4, Part 4 and “A List of Officers, Seaman and Marines on Board the Andrew Doria” dated 25 June 1776 in NDAR Volume 5, Part 4.
John McCoy’s second will was authored less than five months later on 3 March 1777, when “at this present Writing…being infirm in Body, but of Perfect and sound Mind and Memory, do make and declare this my last Will and Testment, in Manner and Form following”
“1stly. I do most solemnly commit my Soul into his Hands from whom I rec’d it, Viz, the Great Author and giver of all good, humbly hoping for Mercy at his Throne, thro the Merits and Intercession of my Great Redeemer and Sanctifier, his Son, Jesus Christ the Righteous.”
“2ndly. I desire to be plainly, but decently buried in the Protestant Burying Grounds of Christ Church, St. Paul, St. Peter or someother Burying Grounds of the Protestants in this City.”
“3rdly. I give and bequeath to my loving Sister Mary Gott, living with Capt’n John Stevenson, of Tobermore in the County of Derry and Kingdom of Ireland, all and singular my effects, of which I may die possessed (my just and lawful debts, first of all paid, together with the expences incurred by my Funeral, etc.). [According to an advertisement in the Royal Pennsylvania Gazette, a John Stevenson operated a store selling goods imported on the ships Ceres and Adventure “in Front-street, four Doors above Walnut-street” in 1778.] The Sum of Ten Pounds, Pennsylvania Currency only excepted which I leave to Archibald Stuart, of the City of Philad’a, living at the time of this writing with Major William Bradford at the London Coffee House in said City, which Sum I desire him to accept in token of the regard I had for him while living and as a remembrance of me, when I am (with regard to this World) no more. [The London Coffee House located at the southwest corner of Front and High (present day Market) Streets was opened by William Bradford in 1754 and was recognized as a center of mercantile, social and political activities before, during and after the American Revolution.] I likewise leave to the said Archibald Stuart all of my wearing apparel, of which I may die possess’d, in the City of Philad’a, Viz, One Hatt, One Silver Stock Buckle, 2 Shirts (one of them a new Check one), One Pair of Brown Striped Breeches, One small Striped Red and White Jacket, 1 Do White & Brown, 1 Do Snuft colored Cloth, 1 Washington pocket Handkerchief, etc. All the residue of my Estate, namely what wages may yet be due to me for Services performed on board the Privateer Brig General Montgomery (of Philad’a), James Montgomery Commander, as well as all, and every other Debt, or Debts, due to and recoverable for me, my Heirs and executor, I give to my loving Sister Mary Gott aforesaid…” This latest will recorded in Will Book R.40 appointed Robert Ferguson of Little Britain Township in Lancaster County his executor. Jacob Cline and George Reinhart witnessed McCoy’s will which was proved on 17 May 1777. An inventory dated 14 June 1777 signed by McCoy’s executor indicates the mariner’s estate included cash and notes due in the amount of 45 pounds, 6 shillings and 6 pence.
This second will indicates that sometime after McCoy’s stint as seaman on the Continental Navy ship Andrew Doria last known to be in mid-October 1776 and his death in the spring of 1777, John McCoy did service on the Pennsylvania privateer brig General Montgomery under the command of Captain James Montgomery (1747-1810). Montgomery was commissioned as commander of the 12-gun privateer with a complement of 100 men on 30 August 1776. The Philadelphian previously served as a row galley captain in the Pennsylvania State Navy beginning in August 1775, commanding first the Ranger and later the Chatham. In command of the privateer brig General Montgomery, Captain James Montgomery captured a number of prizes during the fall of 1776. One source indicates that when his vessel returned to Philadelphia in late November 1776, Captain Montgomery “offered his service, with that of his crew, as an artillery company, to the Continent” in order to support General Washington’s military activities on 1 December 1776. That source also notes that “Congress the next day agreed to take them into Continental service for two months “unless sooner discharged,”” and appointed Montgomery captain of their company. However, the Wednesday 18 December 1776 edition of the Pennsylvania Packet reports, “Since our last arrived here the privateer brig General Montgomery, James Montgomery, Esq; commander, who has brought in with him the ship King George, which he took on her passage from Jamaica to London; her cargo consists of gold dust, ivory, rum, sugar, &c.”